Advanced Fiddle Care: How to Create Custom Fiddle Leaf Fig Soil

If you’re new to fiddle leaf fig plants, you’ll only need to know the most important, fundamental, and basic care instructions.

For example, with adequate light exposure and a good root aeration regimen, many ficus lyrata owners can get by with whatever basic cactus mix happens to be on sale when they purchase their plant.

But if you’re ready to optimize your plant’s growing medium, graduating to the ideal, perfect mix for this particular species, read on.

How to Create Your Own Fiddle Leaf Fig Soil

The fiddle leaf fig tree thrives in its native tropical rain forest environment. Since you likely can’t replicate those conditions precisely, we’ll target the factors we can mimic. One thing we can do is serve the plant’s roots by crafting our own growing medium.

Did you know your tree’s roots actually breathe? The respiratory function of a fiddle’s root system can be greatly hindered by a lack of oxygen, which contributes to root rot, one of the ficus lyrata’s most common pitfalls. Prevent this tragedy with a handful of active charcoal at the bottom of your planter pot and another handful tossed into the custom mix you’re crafting. A natural soil conditioner, this anti-fungal carbon absorbs harmful bacteria and heavy metals like aluminum. If you can’t create the ideal mix, at least ensure you include a bit of this inexpensive, natural growth stimulant.

Fertilizer.

Speaking of stimulating growth, you’ll need a solid fertilizer to apply after mixing and adopting your new soil. A good fertilizer provides ongoing nutrition as you care for your fiddle leaf fig plant.

A Recipe for Growth: Crafting Your Custom Mix

Ready to get to work? First, find a mixing container large enough to hold what you’ll need. I have eleven fiddles these days (apologies to my spouse), so I use a lidded trash can. If you’re only potting one plant, a 5-gallon jobber will do.

Combine equal parts premium soil, bark, and compost. Then, toss in one cup (I say “handful”) of charcoal per gallon of custom mix. Finally, give the whole a good stir.

Before scooping your mixture into planter pots, line the bottom of each pot with a layer of active charcoal. While there’s no true substitution for well-placed draining holes, the carbon will compensate for episodes of affectionate overwatering.

Custom Fiddle Leaf Fig Soil

And that’s it!

You’re ready to repot, transplant, or supplement your current plants’ growing medium with this custom mix.

Before

After

In time, you’ll come to realize that some environmental factors are so crucial they can make up for other shortcomings.

For example, my own fiddle leaf figs can survive a skipped watering if I occasionally go on vacation. The same trees would not survive that occasional negligence if I didn’t optimize other factors like light exposure, humidity, and nutrition.

All this to say you have many options when it comes to the right potting mix for your fiddle leaf fig. The ideal mix is important, yes, but only after you’ve optimized for the most vital factors.